Dogs have long been our most loyal companions for thousands of years. Think of Hachiko, the Japanese Akita who waited at the train station for his owner to return from work until he died.
EPA and DHA are nutrients central to overall health. They produce metabolites that resolve inflammation throughout the body, supporting more than just joint health; they also support brain and eye development and function, and contribute to skin and coat quality.
We want our dogs to move with ease and think clearly, well into their senior years. EPA and DHA both support that goal.
Why Algal oil for dogs and not Fish Oil? The math doesn’t add up
The oceans simply do not produce enough EPA and DHA for humans, never mind our dogs and cats. If everyone on the planet consumed the minimum amounts of EPA and DHA recommended by health organizations worldwide, the shortage of EPA and DHA would conservatively be around 470,000 metric tonnes per year. That is the minimum, not therapeutic levels, and that number does not include dogs and cats.
It also does not account for climate change. As ocean temperatures rise, EPA and DHA production by marine algae declines. Different algae species are affected at different rates, but the direction is clear: less EPA and DHA are available for the fish to consume, which in turn reduces the amount we and our pets receive when consuming fish. Meaning the supply trajectory for conventional fish oil is not favorable.
Algal EPA and DHA
Typically, when discussing omega-3 EPA and DHA, we think of fish, but fish bioaccumulate EPA and DHA when they eat algae or smaller fish that eat algae. Fish are simply the middleman between algae and our dogs. Using Algal oil instead just removes the middleman.
Not New. Just Underutilized.
Algal oil may seem like a recent development, but it has been used commercially in infant formula since 1994. Formula manufacturers needed a cleaner, more reliable source of DHA than fish oil could provide for newborns, and algal cultivation delivered it. For decades, the cost was prohibitive, roughly 30 times that of commodity fish oil, which kept it confined to infant nutrition where they could absorb the cost. That cost gap has closed to a significant extent. The underlying science and safety profile is three decades old.
Why We Use Two Species, Not One
Our Algal Oil EPA and DHA are derived from two species of microalgae Nannochloropsis (Phospholipid EPA) and Schizochytrium (Triglyceride DHA).
Most algal oil products on the market use Schizochytrium alone. That is a reasonable approach for DHA. Schizochytrium is a highly efficient DHA producer, accumulating up to 65% DHA of total fatty acids in commercial strains. But wild-type Schizochytrium produces very little EPA.
Any meaningful EPA content from a single-species Schizochytrium product has required modification of the strain, whether through genetic engineering, chemical/radiation mutagenesis, or selective pressure. That is not necessarily a disqualifying fact, but it is worth knowing as the use of mutagenic breeding practices still allows the use of NON-GMO Labeling, even though the primary difference between genetic engineering is more regulatory history than a meaningful biological distinction.
Both of our algae are cultivated in bioreactors, not the ocean. Meaning Your dog gets the EPA and DHA they need with no ocean-sourced contaminant risk however low it may be.
The combination provides your dog both EPA and DHA in forms the body is equipped to use efficiently, from a source with no contamination risk and no dependence on marine fisheries.
Why Our Algal Oil is the smart choice for Your dog?
It's better for the environment. No Massive Fishing Trawlers involved, and No Overfishing
More Bioavailable: Unlike most fish oils on the market, which are most often Ethyl Esters, our Algal Oil is a source of Phospholipid and glycolipid EPA from Nannochloropsis and Triglyceride DHA from Schizochytrium. Both forms are more bioavailable than the commodity fish oils that come in ethyl ester form which the body must convert before it can use
More Concentrated: Our Algal oil contains a minimum of 36.9% EPA and DHA. Most fish oils are less than 30% EPA and DHA, with many being around 17%, with some being even lower. Concentration determines dose, and dose determines additional calories. A higher concentration means more EPA and DHA per Calorie.
290 Micrograms of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators Per Capsule: EPA and DHA are precursors to a class of signaling molecules called Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPMs): Resolvins, Protectins, and Maresins. These are not simply anti-inflammatory compounds. They are resolution signals. They tell the immune system when to stand down, clear debris from injury sites, and return tissue to homeostasis. The distinction between blocking inflammation and resolving it is not semantic. It is mechanistic.
Most omega-3 supplements for dogs are commodity fish oil in ethyl ester form, low concentration, no SPMs, and a supply chain under increasing strain. Ours is not. If you have read this far, you already know the difference.
References
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Bauer JE. Therapeutic use of fish oils in companion animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Dec 1;239(11):1441-51. doi: 10.2460/javma.239.11.1441. PMID: 22087720.
Dominguez TE, Kaur K, Burri L. Enhanced omega-3 index after long- Versus short-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in dogs. Vet Med Sci.2021;7:370–377. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.369
Magalhães TR, Lourenço AL, Gregório H, Queiroga FL. Therapeutic Effect of EPA/DHA Supplementation in Neoplastic and Non-neoplastic Companion Animal Diseases: A Systematic Review. In Vivo. 2021 May-Jun;35(3):1419-1436. doi: 10.21873/invivo.12394. Epub 2021 Apr 28. PMID: 33910819; PMCID: PMC8193331.
Nan ChiangCharles N. Serhan; Specialized pro-resolving mediator network: an update on production and actions. Essays Biochem 23 September 2020; 64 (3): 443–462. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/EBC20200018
Panchal SK, Brown L. Addressing the Insufficient Availability of EPA and DHA to Meet Current and Future Nutritional Demands. Nutrients. 2021 Aug 20;13(8):2855. doi: 10.3390/nu13082855. PMID: 34445016; PMCID: PMC8398444.